From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Religious leaders in Nigeria have been urged to refrain from making inciting statements that can create hatred and religious intolerance in the country.
The Archbishop of Kaduna Province, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya asserted this in his Christmas massages in Kaduna yesterday.
According to him religious leaders of any faith are tasked with the duty of preaching peace and praying for unity in the country and not hatred and religious intolerance.
He stressed that inciting preaching or teaching by any religious leader will not solve the problems of the country, but rather compound them and increase bloodshed
Most Rev. Yahaya said clergy via their preaching almost set the country on fire during the 2023 elections
Sometimes I wonder who permitted such self-acclaimed preachers to climb the pulpit and speak recklessly The Government must find a way of sanctioning such preachers “ he said
Speaking of the Christmas celebration, the Archbishop charged Nigerians to exhibit the virtues associated with the occasion calling on Christians to show love during the festive season, saying it was only by such charitable acts that the true essence of Christmas would be better felt by everyone.
“Christmas is a reminder that through the birth of Christ, hope and peace are possible and that only through his grace can humanity find peaceful solutions to the world’s most difficult problems,
“Only God’s mercy can free humanity from the many forms of evil, at times monstrous evil, which selfishness spawn in our midst,
“Where God is born, hope is born. Where God is born, peace is born. And where peace is born, there is no longer room for hatred and intolerance”.
